As stated on the website, “For our children, Saddle Up! provides more than just a good time. Research shows that students who participate in therapeutic riding can experience physical, emotional and mental rewards. For individuals with impaired mobility, horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves their bodies in a manner similar to a human walking gait. The rider must continuously contract and relax muscles to re-balance, improving balance, strength and flexibility. Saddle Up! is where “horsing around” really makes a difference. This experience has multiple opportunities for students to increase physical skills, social skills and communication skills. Students develop muscle strength, balance and coordination during riding. They have the opportunity to develop increased communication skills and increased positive social interaction with their riding team. The thrill of riding a horse is an accomplishment that is immeasurable to students that have difficulty with mobility, self-control and/or communication. We have watched students begin the program that could not sit upright on the horse progress to independent riding. Parents report students have increased muscle tone. Instructors report students progressing from nonverbal status to voluntary greetings and conversations with horses and riding team members” (Bass,2017).
Saddle Up! Is A Nonprofit Recreational Therapeutic Riding Program That Provides Children And Youth Between The Ages Of Four And Eighteen With Therapeutic Riding Lessons, Hippotherapy And Equine Assisted Learning. The Participants Graduate When They Turn Nineteen. Saddle Up! Is The Oldest And Largest Program Of Its Kind In The Region. “We Are A Premier Center Accredited By Path (Professional Association Of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International, The Organization That Sets The Standards For Safety And Quality In Equine Assisted Programs” (Bass, 2017). Their Mission Is As Follows, “Saddle Up!’S Mission Is To Provide Children And Youth With Disabilities The Opportunity To Grow And Develop Through Therapeutic, Educational And Recreational Activities With Horses.”
The programs offered here at Saddle Up! are Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding. Here are some of their stats, Saddle Up! provided lessons to 274 participants. The participants consisted of 61% boys and 39% girls. Saddle Up! serves more than 50 types of disabilities – 21% physical disabilities, 10% down syndrome, 31% autism spectrum, 18% cognitive/learning, 6% psychological/emotional, and 12% developmental – with many having multiple disabilities/diagnoses. "At Saddle Up!, however, the emphasis is on ABILITIES and each child is encouraged to do all he/she can whether it is helping to groom or tacking his/her horse or riding independently” (Bass,2017). Saddle Up! Equestrian Club (SUEC) was created to meet their mission by providing the more advanced participants the opportunity to grow and develop through additional learning opportunities. Modeled after the United States Pony Club, the SUEC includes classroom work, barn work, riding, and horse care (Bass,2017). They also provide special training for all of their volunteers, who come from all different backgrounds, age groups, as well as the various locations some traveling a hour or more just to be here to help out and volunteer. Saddle Up! couldn’t function without the dedication of their nearly 400+ volunteers, who in 2016 gave a total of 16,121 hours of service.
